American Technologies Group:
What Are They Up To?

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American Technologies Group. The ATG logo is reproduced here under
the "fair use" provision of the copyright code (for news reporting).
.

September
2012: More Quackery from the Wacky Water Boys

Former ATG
employees David Gann and Shui-Yin Lo are at it again. After the
Meridian Sciences debacle of 2009, they began operating via some new
web sites: stablewatercluster.net and doublehelixwater.com. Now
they're suggesting their magic goop might be used to treat autism!
What a shame it can't treat rampant kookery.

Feb. 2009: Oh no! They're at it again!

Former ATG employees David Gann and Shui-Yin Lo are once again trying to sell investors
on the power of their magic crystals. Their new venture is called Meridian Sciences. Same old scam in a shiny new bottle.

**Disclaimer**

October, 2001: with ATG now on the verge of collapse, the problems with this company
are apparent to most. This web page is no longer
updated regularly. It is preserved here as a historical archive of
some of the issues and events surrounding ATG.

(Old) News Flash

#1. Lo replies to Engelking. You can read the raw text version transcribed by John Collins,
now. It has a few problems. A corrected and properly-typeset version
will be coming soon, along with commentary by your humble
webmaster. (May 3, 2000)

#2. The end is near! ATEG's offices are for sale or rent. Both
the main building and the adjacent one in which they had some space.
Guess they'll be moving operations into Larry Brady's basement now.
The sign says:

#3. Paul Engelking debunks
IE crystals. The Professor of Chemistry at the University of
Oregon explains exactly how Lo's theory violates the laws of
thermodynamics. Here are two more nicely formatted versions where the
equations are easier to read: Postscript, PDF. Also see
the Engelking Affidavit. (March 11, 2000)

A note about acronyms: American Technologies Group (OTC: ATEG) commonly goes by
"ATG". But their stock symbol is "ATEG" because only companies listed
on the NYSE or AMEX can have three-letter symbols. ATG is not even
listed on NASDAQ; it is a bulletin board stock. And another,
unrelated company already has the "ATG" symbol. So many folks refer
to ATG as ATEG, and their domain name is ateg.com.

Cast of Characters

John Collins, former CEO and
Chairman of the Board of ATG. Engineered the disastrous deal with the
cult-controlled TradeNet Marketing, Inc. Left the board in December
1997, but remains in close contact with the company. In June 1998,
ATG announced plans to sell their ATG Media division to Collins for
$500,000.

Lawrence J. Brady, current CEO
of ATG. Does some consulting on the side.
Also rumored to be on the board of INTR (now INTRE); not confirmed yet.
Larry's son Mark was COO of Integral Health, Inc., a business partner
of ATG, though he left around October, 1998.

Dr. Shui-Yin Lo, Director of R&D.
Discoverer of "IE crystals" and "nanotricity". (This link now points
to a bio page and includes patent information.)

Harold Rapp, Chief Operating Officer of ATG. Sent this threatening letter to Mark
Dallara after Mark started asking embarassing questions of the
advisory board about IE crystals and consumer fraud.

The ATG advisory board. This
list was formerly posted on the ATG web site, but was pulled after
Mark Dallara started contacting board members. Now it's a secret
advisory board.

Want to help expose the scams described below? Contact your state's
Attorney General or Consumer Protection Department today (click here for a list), and give them
the URL for this web site!

The IE Crystals Scam

Ice is crystallized water. Shui-Yin Lo claims to have discovered a
new form of ice that is stable at room temperatures, and that has
miraculous properties which are exploited in various products from
ATG. The term "IE crystals" denotes "(I)ce formed under an (E)lectric
field." Is this a legitimate discovery, mere pseudoscience, or
outright fraud? Here's some information to help you decide.

A few words about the physics of ice.
(The most recent text on ice physics I could find in the library was
written in 1974. This entry should be revised to reflect more
recent data pointed out by Mark Thorson.)

Affidavit of
Andrew Blackwood, Vice President of Structure Probe, Inc., hired by the
Oregon Attorney General's office to investigate IE crystals. Dr. Blackwood
writes: "We find using the laboratory techniques of transmission
electron microscopy and ultraviolet spectroscopy that we obtain
similar results for water claimed to contain IE structures as for West
Chester, Pennsylvania tap water."

The Oregon Files, from the office of
the Oregon Attorney General, include a set of memos with a detailed
explanation of why ATG's claims contradict accepted scientific theory
and their experiments are worthless due to lack of proper controls.

British physicist Dr. Ji-Chen Li received funding from ATG to
conduct some tests on IE water. He presented the results, largely
negative, at ATG's symposium in Los Angeles in 1997. Dr. Li now
dismisses ATG's claims about IE crystals. In July 1998, ATG pressured
Li into removing a link on his research group's UMIST Ice Physics home
page that pointed to this web site. Read the whole story here, in The UMIST Affair.

An analysis of Dr. Lo's claims by
Steven Bittenson, who holds a Ph.D. in chemical physics. ``Lo's
initial argument is interesting, but there are significant issues with
his follow-through and support of his conclusions.''

It is possible that IE crystals are similar to polywater, i.e., a
case of self-delusion on the part of the investigator combined with
sloppy experimental techniques. Note that polywater was originally
called "anomalous water". IE crystals are described as an "anomalous
state of ice".

"Case Studies in Pathological Science: How the Loss of
Objectivity Led to False Conclusions in Studies of Polywater, Infinite
Dilution and Cold Fusion," by Denis L. Rousseau, American
Scientist 80(January-February 1992):54-63."Rousseau, whose investigations of polywater were a
major factor in its demise, simplifies Irving Langmuir's criteria of
"pathological science" into three conditions, which he illustrates with examples
from the polywater controversy, Benveniste's pro-homeopathy dilution experiments,
and the cold fusion controversy." (Edward Lipson, from a web page
on
Pseudoscience and Paranormal Phenomena).

Why it's a scam. ATG and Dr. Lo's
actions don't match what real scientists do when they make a
significant discovery. But they very closely match the behavior of
con artists working a good high-tech scam.

The TradeNet/ATG Laundry Ball Scam

TradeNet was a multi-level marketing company that sold laundry balls
based on ATG's IE crystals.

The Church of
Scientology, which TIME Magazine called The Thriving
Cult of Greed and Power and a "hugely profitable global racket",
figured prominently in TradeNet's background. Three current and several former ATG employees are also
members of this cult, though none remain in top management positions,
and ATG was never under the influence of the cult the way TradeNet
was.

Press
release from the Oregon Department of Justice, Financial Fraud
Section, denouncing the TradeNet laundry ball products as frauds.
Reports that ATG paid $20,000 into a settlement fund. TradeNet and
TOP Marketing together paid $190,000 and agreed to never market
products based on unproven scientific claims again in Oregon. This
specifically includes similar laundry products and The Force,
an automotive product from ATG also based on IE crystals..

"This, is not a First Dynamic thing.
This, is Third Dynamic.When I sat across the
table from John Collins and he laid it on the
line, he said, 'Bill, I'm pissed at you.
You
know why I'm pissed at you? Because that - the
100,000 people out there know you're
Scientologists. You guys are fucking
up."
- Bill Cooper, TradeNet board meeting, 8/18/97

Tradenet board
meeting transcript discussing investigations by
attorneys general in several states for consumer fraud.
Search for
references to "John Collins", who at the time
was CEO of ATG.

"Lynn, do not make statements that David
or any other staff have been permitted to
publicly speak in a disparaging manner. I
expected more from you. I was not aware of the
communications until after they occurred. I also
believe David when he says he was
applying
the ethics gradient with other Church members.
David
has been instructed to cease such communications
and has stated clearly that he is unwilling to
continue to flow power to any of the three
owners."
- John Collins, Letter to Lynn Irons, 8/14/97

Letter from John Collins,
then CEO of ATG, to Lynn Irons of the Church of
Scientology, about TradeNet. Mentions
"out-ethics" situations, which is Scientology
jargon. ``David'' is David Gann.

Suppressive Person Declare of
TradeNet founder Erwin Annau, excommunicating him from the cult of
Scientology for causing a scandal.

Visit the Showcase of
Fraudulent Laundry Products. See laundry balls, disks, rings, CDs,
and globes: 23 in all. Every one is based on some sort of
pseudoscientific mumbo jumbo: "structured water", "liquid magnets",
and our favorite, "IE crystals".

The Coming Health Products Scam: This Could Be Big!

This is a three-way cooperative scam. ATG supplies the underlying
"technology", Integral Health manufactures the products, and 21st
Century operates an MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) network to sell the
products.

Integral Health, Inc.

Integral Health Inc. was
formed through a reverse merger between The Montreux Group, Inc.,
Montreux Investment Circle LLC, and a publicly-traded corporate
shell known as Alpaca, Inc. (OTC BB:LONG). Alpaca's March
1997 annual report (SEC Form 10-K) states: "The Company has had no
operational history and has yet to engage in business of any kind."
It existed to be merged with some other venture, thereby taking the
venture public while avoiding any approval process.

David R. Yeaman: Alpaca had previously been directed by
David R. Yeaman. On April 16, 1997, Mr. Yeaman was convicted of
multiple counts of conspiracy,
wire fraud, and securities fraud. "The scheme involved the
creation of public companies by reverse merger from public shells..."
He resigned on April 22.

But is Yeaman really gone? From the May 7, 1997 Form
8-K filing: "While Mr. Yeaman has resigned from his affiliation
with the Company ... it is contemplated that he will provide
assistance as may be necessary for an orderly transition of their
affairs. In addition, Mr. Yeaman may continue to be deemed an
affiliate of the Company by virtue of his familial and historical
relationships with the Company, its shareholders, officers and
directors."

In December 1997, a press
release from Integral Health, Inc. (OTC BB:LONG), announced John
Collins as a new director. Collins had just resigned as ATG's CEO.
At the same time, IHI announced its joint venture with ATG to market
"IE crystals" in personal care and household products, including a
line of products at IHI's "Longevity MetaCenters" (properties
developed by the Montreux Group). Note: despite what IHI said in its
press release, Collins never assumed his directorship role.

IHI's
Form NT 10-K filed on March 27, 1998, explaining why their
required annual report has not been filed, was signed by Mark Brady,
Chief Operating Officer. This is the son of ATG's CEO, Lawrence
Brady. ``The analysis and accounting is currently in progress but due
to the unavailability of necessary records has not yet been
completed.'' By October, 1998, Mark Brady had left the company.

The president of 21st Century Global Network is Mark Yarnell,
"The Greatest Networker in the World" (Upline Magazine, 1997, as
quoted on his personal web site on AOL). Yarnell is hyping the joint
venture like mad to potential downline members. You can hear
Yarnell's revised sales pitch, including the hype about IE being a
discovery of equal importance to penicillin, at 1-800-655-9094. The
web site for his downline is www.powersystems.net/21/.
(Update 4/3/2001: 21st Century is dead. Here is Yarnell's newest sales pitch.)

You can hear Yarnell's sales pitch, including the hype about IE
being a discovery of equal importance to penicillin, at
1-800-655-9094.

"The Force" or "The Farce"? - The Engine Sausage Scam

One of ATG's "IE crystal" consumer products is "The Force", a sausage-shaped pack
which is placed in a car's air filter and supposedly releases an "airborne
fuel additive" into the system. ATG claims that the product is a catalyst
which enhances
combustion and increases engine performance.

"
ATG developed and RESPONDENTS also market in Oregon another product, which
they call 'The Force' ('FORCE'). ATG also developed, and RESPONDENTS have
distributed in Oregon, marketing materials representing that FORCE improves
gasoline mileage and automotive engine performance by virtue of its 'active
ingredient,' which RESPONDENTS identify as 'IE' or 'IE crystals.' FORCE
constitutes goods as defined in ORS 646.605(7)... Based on scientific
analysis and test results obtained from qualified independent laboratory,
the Department finds that each RESPONDENT knew or should have known that in
truth and in fact, the product claims described in paragraph 9, 10, 11 and
12 ('the product claims') are false; that the publications and test results
contained in the booklets described in paragraph 10 ('the booklet') do not
substantiate them; and that 'IE crystals' or 'structures' do not
constitute or create a detergent substitute, enhance detergent action or
improve gas mileage or automotive engine performance."

The AVC
that resulted from the laundry ball
investigation required TradeNet to pay a penalty of $165,000 and to stop
marketing laundry balls, The Force, and anything else with IE crystals, in
the state of Oregon. ATG's AVC, on the
other hand, merely included a $20,000 smack on the wrists. But the Oregon
DoJ is not finished with ATG - according to representatives from the
Consumer Protection division, they still have an open file on ATG and The
Force.

The California Air Resources Board
says The Force doesn't work. And ATG may be violating the terms of
the board's executive order.

ATG's distributors claim there are patents on The Force. But all
we could find was US
Patent 5,312,566, "Air Intake System Device", awarded May 17,
1994, which would put it around the time of the Clean Air Pac, ATG's
earlier combustion enhancer product. The patent covers only the
delivery system, not the actual catalyst used. Specifically, the
patent describes "a discardable device for placement within the air
intake system of any combustion engine, said device being comprised of
a package having a flexible outer covering; and a catalyst contained
by said covering, said covering enabling said catalyst to pass
therethrough at a controlled rate, wherein the passing of said
catalyst through said covering into said air intake system during
operation of said engine improves combustion efficiency."

The BASER Scam

The BASER is ATG's term
for a Bose-Einstein condensate laser. ATG claims the device has the
potential to neutralize dangerous nuclear waste.

Mona Charen
column on the BASER, from 9/17/97. Mindlessly repeats ATG press
releases as if they were fact; lists a bunch of scientists who have
nothing to do with the BASER (e.g., Mary Lidstrom is a
microbiologist.) Cites an article in Final Frontier Magazine as her
source, but doesn't disclose that this is actually an ATG publication.
Very shoddy work, Mona.

The Light
Party endorses ATG. Wacko new age political party based in San
Francisco lauds ATG as a pro-environment company after encountering a
press release on the BASER, "under development with Cal Tech
University" [sic]. (This party also champions cold fusion.)

Loose Ends

Where are the IE crystal patents? ATG has been claiming
since early 1998 to have ``secured the patents'' on IE crystals, but
we found no such patents in the IBM patents database until
February 16, 1999. So far, only that one patent has been awarded.

ATG's Reaction to Public Scrutiny

ATG labels its critics
"terrorists", a favorite insult of the Scientology cult.
(Scientology routinely refers to its critics on the Internet as
"copyright terrorists".) From the www.ateg.com front door on
April 24, 1998: "Our website is not the only one targeted by these
Internet terrorists who have created these links. On the advice of
our legal counsel and at the request of the authorities who are
investigating these extremists, we are posting this notification."
After we pointed out how closely their response mirrored
Scientology's, ATG replaced "Internet terrorists" with "extremists" on
April 29.

Contributions, Credits, and Legal Disclaimer

I would be happy to receive additional information about ATG's
officers and advisory board, ice physics, Bose-Einstein condensates,
homeopathy, or other topics relevant to American Technologies
Group. My address appears at the bottom of this page.

I, Dave Touretzky, built this web site with contributions from Mark
Dallara and others. I am solely responsible for its content. My motivation for creating this site is to
expose what I believe to be fraudulent activity. Neither I nor Mark
Dallara have any financial interest in ATG.